Bentley backs Lightning to strike Jockey Harry Bentley is convinced the drop into Listed class will work the oracle for Lightning Thunder at Haydock on Saturday. Although the filly has finished runner-up in both the Irish and English 1000 Guineas, Olly Stevens' inmate has still not won since her juvenile days. She was not beaten that far behind Rizeena in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, though, and her regular partner is bullish about a big show in the Betfred TV/EBF Stallions Dick Hern Fillies' Stakes over a mile. Bently told his blog on www.racinguk.com: "I'm delighted to be reunited with Lightning Thunder, who takes a big drop in class at Haydock on Saturday. "Given she's a dual 1000 Guineas runner-up, I'd be disappointed if she didn't win the Listed Dick Hern Fillies' Stakes. "I've ridden her in six of her seven starts and have done a lot of work with her at home, so have built up a good affinity. It's great to be back on her and hopefully she can win this en route to a bigger prize. "She's had a little break since Ascot, when Olivier Peslier took over the reins, and she's been freshened up and seems in great form at home. "While she's run some fantastic races in defeat, she hasn't won for nearly a year, so hopefully this should be a nice confidence-booster for her, and, at the end of the day, we need to get her head in front this season." Stevens is also represented by Alutiq in the mile affair, in which recent Ascot scorer Solar Magic looks a chief rival to Lightning Thunder
